Assessment of left ventricular function

An evaluation of the left ventricular systolic (LVS) function checks how the left chamber of the heart is pumping.

Why this is important:

The proper treatment for heart failure depends on what area of your heart is affected. An important test is to check how your heart is pumping – called the LVS function assessment. It can tell your healthcare provider whether or not the left side of your heart is pumping properly.

Other ways to check on how your heart is pumping include:

Your medical history

Listening to your heart sounds

Other tests as ordered by a physician (like an ECG (electrocardiogram), chest X-ray, blood work, or an echocardiogram)

The chart above indicates the percentage of patients that were given an evaluation of the LVS function.